Biodiversity in Peril, the U.N. Warns

Parrots are in peril, the planet is in peril.... now biodiversity is in peril.  What does peril mean?  Read the following article and watch the video:  Biodiversity in Peril, the UN warns.  Why are we dependent on biological resources?  What can we do?  What is the good news?

Effects of the Ice Age

The last Ice Age was the beginning of the extinction of many species.  Read the following article.  Loss of species after Ice Age seen as warning.  What do the fossils reveal?  How much did populations decline?  Did all species decline?  Why/why not?  Give an example.

Do you like Sushi?

If you like sushi, you should pay attention to where the fish comes from.  Watch the following video:  Just How Much Mercury is in the Fish you are Eating.  Where does the mercury come from?  What is the harm in mercury?  Why is this a problem?  (Think of food webs.)

Climate Change and Species Change?

A Grolar Bear has been found!  Read the following article:  Bear shot in N.W.T. was grizzly-polar hybrid, Could be first 2nd generation hybrid found in wild.  What is a groler bear?  What is a hybrid?  How has climate change affected these species?  Remember what we learned in our evolution unit... what makes a species a species?  Is a groler bear a species? 

Ivory Trade

Read the following article about illegal wildlife trade.  Asian ivory trade poses danger to African elephant.  How does this relate to what we have done in class the last few weeks?  What will happen if nothing is done?  What are some things that you can do?

Loss of important collection

In Brazil, the largest collection of snake specimins has been lost in a fire.  Read the following article:   Brazil fire burns huge collection of dead snakes.   Why is a collection of dead organisms so important?  Think about what we have learned in class over the last few weeks. 

GMO Eukalyptus Trees

Last semester we did a socratic seminar about Genetically Modified Organisms.  What is a GMO?  What are the benefits?  What are the drawbacks? 

Read the following article:  US OKs Genetically Engineered Trees in South; May Be Used for Biofuel .  Describe both sides to this story.  How might this affect our environment - good and bad?What would you choose to do?

The California Condor

The California Condor, a type of vulture, is an endangered species.  You can currently only find the condor in the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and western coastal mountains of California and northern Baja California. And each of these birds has a tag on it's arm identifying it.  The condors are part of a captive breeding and recovery program. 

Because of lead poisoning, poaching, and habitat destruction, the numbers of wild condors dropped to 22 birds in the wild in the late 1980s, so scientists captured them all and brought them to the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo. Numbers rose through captive breeding and, beginning in 1991, condors have been reintroduced into the wild. This project is the most expensive species conservation project ever undertaken in the United States and the condor is one of the world's rarest bird species. As of March 2010, there are 349 condors known to be living, including 180 in the wild.

Earlier this year, the first egg was laid in the wild since the birds have been reintroduced.  It was cause for great celebration.  Until just last week... when the chick was found to have too much lead in its system, and was captured to bring in for medical help.

Read the following article.  Bad News for Wild Condor Chick at Pinnacles National Monument.   How do the birds get exposed to led?  How can they be treated?  How can this be prevented?

Ecotourism

Are you travelling anywhere this summer?  What affect will that have on our planet?  Read the following article:  The world’s best green vacations.  Why can travelling negatively affect habitats or the Earth?  What is ecotourism?  Why is ecotourism important?  What can you do?

Shade grown coffee

We have talked about the importance of biodiversity and the effects of habitat loss on species.  We have also discussed bird migration.  Birds depend on different habitats all over the world - most birds don't stay in the same habitat year round.  Many birds that we are familiar with in the summer migrate south in the winter - and they spend their time on coffee plantations.  Read the following article:  Why Migratory Birds are Crazy for Coffee.   Why do they stay on shade grown coffee plantations?  What are the benefits of shade grown coffee?  What are some of the issues with sun grown coffee plantations?  How does it affect birds?  What can you do to help?

Get outside!

In class we have been spending some time outdoors birding.  When I was young, I grew up playing outside - catching polywogs in the creek behind my house, climbing trees, and riding my bike.  I went camping, learned about nature, and spent time outside.  Now,  I am suprised at how many of my students never go outside and are shocked when they tell me they have never even seen a deer before! 

Why is going outside important?  Read the following article.  Explain what benefits the outdoors has on us.

In the Green of Health: Just 5 Minutes of 'Green Exercise' Optimal for Good Mental Health.

How are evolution and ecology related?

In biology we learn all about life but the year is broken up into units (cells, genetics, evolution, physiology, and ecology).  It is easy to see how genetics relates to cells - cells have DNA/genes in them.  Physiology is related to cells, because cells make up our different organ systems.  Eevolution and ecology are closely related.  How?

Read the following article:  Evolution Impacts Environment: Fundamental Shift in How Biologists Perceive Relationship Between Evolution and Ecology from sciencedaily.com.

How will the oil spill affect the food chain?

Ecologists have put up barriers to stop oil from the spill from reaching the shores of islands and land.  But what affect will the oil have on land animals?  Read the article Concerns Up and Down the Food Chain, by Leslie Kaufman.  Be sure after reading the article to look at the graphic "Spills Affect Underwater" on the left of the page.  Describe how the oil spill will play a major role in the food chain.

Will we stop drilling for oil?

Why do we drill for oil?  What do we use oil for?  Read the article Oil's hidden costs visible, but will it matter? by Seth Borenstein.  Why do we drill offshore rather than on land?  What are some alternative types of energy?  What are the costs of the current oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Oil Spill!

Read the following New York Times article.  And look at the map on the page.  What caused the spill?  How big is it?  When will it hit land?  Why are they burning the oil?  What affect will this have on the enviornment?

Wildlife in the Gulf Oil Spill

Read the following article about the Gulf Oil Spill.  What effect does oil have on marine mammals?  Birds?  What does UC Davis do to help out during oil spills?